A Researcher's Perspective on Current Events

January 2010

January 29, 2010

Introduction by Celesta Cheo, Research Director, Public Relations Research

My favorite OTW blog post probably won’t be a surprise to anyone… and I should say my “few” favs because I’m thinking of the 4 that I wrote about an international project where we interviewed women with metastatic breast cancer in 9 countries. In fact, since those posts, we conducted the project in four more countries. (Fist pump!) My colleagues, our vendors, and our clients poured a lot of time, energy and care into this project – so it was extremely gratifying to create more visibility for the data, regardless of way, shape or form. From a resource and commitment perspective, it’s a true luxury to collect opinions from critically ill individuals around the world and to make such information available to health care professionals and policy makers. Here’s wishing for many more projects like this to come our way… Fingers crossed!

Original Post by Celesta Cheo, Research Director, Public Relations Research, July 28, 2009

The “pink ribbon” campaign for breast cancer is a prominent voice in Americans’ patient advocacy community and it has done a tremendous amount to help women in the U.S., and even globally, to deal with breast cancer. However, there has been, perhaps not surprisingly, less of a focus on women with advanced breast cancer.

Recently, I had the good fortune to work on a project to understand the experiences of women with Stage 4 breast cancer and help give them a voice. We interviewed about 100 women with metastatic breast cancer each in 9 countries – the U.S., Argentina, Mexico, Egypt, Poland, the UK, France, Spain, and Belgium. The courage and resilience of the women who participated in these interviews is astounding. Much success can also be attributed to a two-way relationship we built with the project’s client, the leadership of the key opinion leaders who provided guidance on methodology and design, and the flexibility and the expertise of our global partners on the ground. It was truly a team effort across all levels for a worthwhile cause.

This week, we want to share some valuable nuggets of information from these women, starting with access and usage of information. It was heartening to see that most women around the world actively seek more information about MBC, however information is not always easy to find and does not always address their needs – and the gaps are not always where you might think. For example:

Most women (about 7 in 10) in the U.S., Argentina, and Mexico find it easy to locate information on metastatic breast cancer, but the reverse is true for women in the UK (29%), France (25%), and Spain (19%).

Many women across the world feel the current information on MBC does not address their needs, especially Argentinean women (75%), but majorities of women in Poland (59%) and Spain (57%) also feel this way.

So, even in the face of a dire diagnosis, women are seeking information to cope with their condition. I cannot start to imagine how these women handle day to day life, and am moved by their courage and resiliency. I hope that the release of these results by our client will inspire patient organizations, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals to continue in their efforts to provide women with the support they need and the information they are searching for.

January 28, 2010

Introduction by Deana Percassi, Research Director, Public Relations Research

Thinking about my favorite OTW blog post from this past year took hardly any time at all…America’s Favorite TV Dads immediately came to mind. There is no doubt in my mind that many of us were influenced or at least could recall the funny things Cliff Huxtable would do (dancing, zerbers, etc).

The real question – which is also the question that occurred to me when reading the original Harris Poll – Who is that role model of today? Out of the top 15 only 1 dad who is currently on TV made the list and that is Homer Simpson. I decline to comment on him in particular with fear that I will likely offend some people.

If this question is asked 20 years from now, who will our kids say was/is their favorite TV dad? Or if we asked the question with regards to current TV dads (i.e., shows currently in production, not syndicated reruns)…who would come out on top? Can we answer the question? How many dads to we truly have to choose from? Alan Harper from Two and a Half Men? How about Jay Pritchett from Modern Family (who, coincidentally, is played by Ed O’Neill who also played Al Bundy who tied for 15th on the original list)? How about Phil Dunphy from Modern Family? Or Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker from Modern Family? Has TV and the traditional American family really changed that much – I mean where are all the “father figures” on TV and why do 4 of my 5 come from one show?

Original Post by Laura Light, Vice-President of Public Relations Research, June 22, 2009

According to a recent Harris Poll, Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show tops the list of America’s favorite TV dads. Hands down, Cliff wins in almost every demographic category – age, gender, race/ethnicity and political party.

There are some slight generational differences outside of Cliff – echo boomers choose Danny Tanner as the other dad in their top 2, while Gen X-ers choose Mike Brady, baby boomers Ward Cleaver and matures Jim Anderson.

Based on the full list, as a general rule, we like our dads disarmingly witty, professionally successful and oh yes, happily married. But it’s been almost been two decades since we introduced a TV dad into our homes that makes us feel happy or real or consequential or whatever it is that TV dads are supposed to do.

According to the poll, we met most of our top 10 TV dads prior to 1975; one in the 80s (Cliff Huxtable, The Cosby Show); one in the 90s (Tim Taylor, Home Improvement), but sadly not even one this decade. Not one!

January 27, 2010

Introduction by Kathy Steinberg, Research Manager, Public Relations Research

I'll admit it: I'm biased... As "Green Queen" here at Harris, one of my favorite posts from the past year has to do with the environment and barriers to "going green". [Note: "Green Queen" is not an official title (I wish!), but an affectionate nickname bestowed on me by my colleagues for spearheading Harris's ongoing initiatives to amass thought leadership and develop new products in environmental issues research.]

I think this is an obvious and important point that, unfortunately, has become increasingly obscured by politics. "Green" is now a label that is laden with connotations both positive and negative, depending on who you ask (liberals vs. conservatives, believers vs. deniers of climate change, etc.). But regardless of who's asking, the bottom line should be that our resources are not limitless so we should conserve them, and doing so often saves money -- a win-win situation!

Original post by Robert Salvoni, Managing Director of Europe and Asia, October 22, 2009

The recent Harris Poll in the U.S. dramatically shows how differently we all view "green" issues. Some of us view the whole green movement with some skepticism. Others don't take kindly to being lectured (I must confess, I count myself among them!). Some feel that any small contribution they make is just a drop in the ocean and makes little difference. Then again, increasing numbers -- influenced by scientific research, reasoned evidence, and indeed, media hysteria -- are convinced into taking what small steps they can to "make a difference."

Businesses too seem to be going green en masse. Whether it is cynical "green-washing," seeking approval from stakeholders, or because of the deep-seated conviction of senior executives, they all seem to be doing it (and letting everyone know!).

So, I looked at the research and tried to work out how "righteous" I was. Funny enough, although it may seem a bit shallow, I realized that what I do is done because it simply makes sense to me. If I can save a few bucks on my energy or fuel bills, if I can improve my company's profits by lowering costs, if I can gain more revenue by working with the growing band of green-conscious businesses in raising awareness of the impact of global warming or green best practice, then why should I be concerned about my position on the "righteous" scale?

When people realize that it just "makes sense," then the inexorable move to green will become unstoppable. Our resources are not infinite, and, as any business graduate will tell you -- the rarer the asset, the more it should be valued. So go green, but don't do it out of guilt -- do it out of conviction!

January 26, 2010

When thinking about favorite OTW posts of the past year, Aaron’s entry about Americans’ perceptions of our government agencies came immediately to mind. Last year, the U.S. Mint topped the list with the most positive accolades from the American public and the SEC groveled at the bottom (hey, we trust the people MAKING the money…just not regulating it). This year, I’m curious to see if the economic improvements also improve each agency’s rating. Regardless of the economic climate, however, all of the agencies should strive to be in “U.S. Mint” condition.

Original Post by Aaron Heffron, Vice President of Public Affairs Research, February 10, 2009

With Valentine’s Day approaching, there is even more evidence that making money is certainly the way to our hearts. Not earning money, actually MAKING it. From a Harris Poll released today, the U.S. Mint tops our list of government agencies (in terms of how good a job the agency is doing), with a positive rating of excellent/good by 80% of the American public (among those who had a basic understanding of what each of the government agencies does). I guess we all love our Susan B. Anthony dollars!

On the flip side, with the bailout and economic stimulus on the front page every day, how the government is handling our money (or monitoring it) is certainly affecting how we evaluate the job our government is doing. The image of the SEC couldn’t get any worse (hopefully). Positive ratings of the SEC went down from 71% in ’07 to 29%(!!!!) this year. The SEC is certainly riding the downward wave of the banking and finance industry. Whether you think the SEC is (or is not) at fault here, our confidence in the ability of the SEC to oversee the system is definitely shaken. There is a lot of bridge building that will be necessary for the new administration.

Economic downturns tend to shake our pocket books, but bad food turns our stomachs - and also our perspective. The USDA has been tainted, rightly or wrongly, by E. coli scares and impure foods, whether it be peanuts or infant formula from China. The USDA has acted aggressively to counter recent issues, but it seems that our perception of the work done by the USDA has suffered accordingly. Their positive rating is 61% this year, down significantly from 73% in 2007.

In all, nine government agencies saw their ratings fall this year (from 2007) – and only four saw any improvement (mostly very modest). It is important for all of us to have confidence in our government, especially in trying times. It seems that many of our agencies are facing challenges, unlike those they have seen in the recent past. Hopefully, for all of our sakes, they are working to stem the tide and move forward constructively.

Original Post by Whitney Heckathorne, Public Relations Research, October 13, 2009

For 10 out of the past 12 years, the Big Apple has been named the #1 city Americans say they would like to live in or near, if they could live in any city in the country except the one they currently live in or nearest to, a recent Harris Poll reveals. And this year is no exception: NYC continues its reign.

Perhaps the “why” needs no explanation; New York City has something for everyone (except cheap apartments!). And so, since we began asking this question in 1997, “the city so nice, they named it twice” has remained virtually unchallenged in the top spot.

More interesting, however, are the rest of the Top Ten rankings and the rise or fall in popularity of these cities.

#2 (tied) Denver, CO—↑ from #9 in 2007

#2 (tied) San Francisco, CA –↑ from #4

#4 San Diego, CA—↓ from #2

#5 Seattle, WA—↓from #3

#6 Chicago, IL—↑ from #11

#7 Boston, MA—↑ from #12

#8 Las Vegas, NV—↓from #5

#9 Washington, DC—New to the list since 1997

#10 Dallas, TX—New to the list since 2002, when it ranked #9

What has caused a supreme jump in popularity for Denver since 2007? (Surely it was the Democratic National Convention being hosted there and not The Real World: Denver). And I’m taken aback that seemingly American staple cities such as Chicago, Boston and D.C. weren’t even in the top 10 in 2007...(were we really so over Bush that D.C. couldn’t be included in the top FIFTEEN, even??)

In terms of cities in the top ten that dropped since 2007, none of them fell too drastically in comparison to their previous spots. I don’t really have hypotheses as to why San Diego or Vegas dipped but, as for Seattle, well, Grey’s Anatomy has taken a ratings bashing and, call me crazy, but Americans seem to want to live where their favorite TV stars reside… (think Friends, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos and you’ll get my drift…).

But that’s another blog entry for another day.

If YOU were given the option to live in ANY American city but the one in which you currently live, which would you choose? And why?

January 21, 2010

Have you noticed department stores seem to be having never-ending one-day sales lately? If so, you’re not alone. Nearly half of Americans (49%) feel that mid-tier department stores have more sales and promotions this year compared to last, according to a recent Harris Poll. This tactic might be paying off in the short-term for retailers, as almost 7 in 10 Americans say they visit mid-tier department stores at least occasionally. However, is this strategy shortsighted on the retailers’ side just to make a buck? Possibly. Thirty-nine percent of Americans believe there’s not much difference between discount stores and mid-tier department stores as there used to be. Moreover, nearly one-quarter agree that mid-tier department stores have diminished the status level of their brand.

Is this just another effect of the ongoing recession or are there fundamental changes occurring within the retail industry? Personally, I believe it’s a combination of both. The economic downturn we’ve experienced over the past year (has it only been a year?!) has forced many to watch their spending by ‘stepping down the retail ladder’ to stores with a lower price-point. This has forced higher-end retailers to discount heavily in order to compete. Additionally, prior to the economic meltdown, department stores already faced an uphill battle. For instance, although there are fewer department store chains compared to the days of yore, they still face heightened competition. These days not only do department stores need to compete on price with discount stores, but they must also compete against fast inventory turnaround retailers such as H&M and Zara. The difficult economic climate coupled with tough competition and changing consumer preferences does not make me envy the department store CEOs, except for maybe that cherished employee discount!

January 20, 2010

If I were just rating my performance today at work, I’d give myself an/a:

A in productivity (I annihilated my to-do list—check, check, check!);

B- in professionalism (managed to splatter olive oil all over the front of my button-down shirt—points off); and,

C+ for blogging (it probably would have been helpful to have finished writing today’s entry prior to COB)…

And that’s today’s report card…though perhaps Kathy and Laura can share any objections regarding grade inflation in the comments section of this post.

However, what if your job was being President of the United States—would you be more lenient in grading your job performance? Or would you be even stricter? Obama said himself that if he were to grade himself on his performance his first year in office, he’d give himself a good, solid "B+"…but, technically, we are his bosses. And what do we think of his job performance?

According to a recent Harris Poll, about 8 in 10 Americans give Obama a passing grade (a "D" or better) while nearly half say the job he has done has been above average (i.e., half think he deserves an "A" or a "B"). So it seems America semi-agrees with Obama’s self-assessment, though there is always room for improvement.

But how can he possibly EVER earn an "A" in Americans’ eyes when everyone has different priorities? Take healthcare reform, for example. While 32% say it was given the right amount of attention during his first year in office, just over 4 in 10 say it was given too much and nearly 1 in 5 say it was given too little attention.

And the environment? 35% say it was given the right amount of attention during his first year in office, while just under 1 in 5 say it was given too much focus and 33% say it was not given enough.

Sigh. Same pattern follows with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and foreign policy, in general.

Make up your minds, people! The truth is, Obama will never earn an "A" while all of our priorities are divided. Perhaps a goal-setting session with America is an order.

But rest assured, President Obama and America: According to an article in The Atlantic this month, among the three presidents Obama has referenced as his role models—Lincoln, FDR, and Kennedy—none of them had a spectacular first year in comparison to the rest of their presidencies. So perhaps things just have to get worse before they can get better.

What would YOU say to President Obama if you were giving his performance review?

Over half of U.S. adults believe President Obama has not paid enough attention to employment (59%) during his first year as President. ---BBC World News America/Harris Poll, conducted online between January 13th and 15th, 2010 among 2,010 U.S. adults 18+